JOPLIN, Mo. – The Dallas Christian College volleyball team went 2-1 over a three-match weekend hosted by Ozark Christian College. It was a big weekend that had the Crusaders playing three schools out of the North Division in the NCCAA Southwest Region.
DCC improved to 4-3 overall, as it dispatched Kansas Christian College on Friday in three sets and concluded the weekend slate with a sweep over Ozark Christian. Prior to the matchup against the Ambassadors, DCC took No. 2 Manhattan Christian College to the brink in a five-set thriller that was just short.
Dallas Christian vs. Kansas Christian (25-14, 25-7, 25-12)
It was all Crusaders on Friday afternoon to open the trio of matches over the weekend. The closest set was the opening one with a 25-14 victory. After that, DCC combined to outscore the Falcons 50-19. The Crusaders tallied 30 kills, with half of the in the first set, and also had 14 service aces.
Cameron Del Angel was the lone DCC player in double-digits for kills with 11. That was also a season-most for the senior.
Lauren Baker and
Christen Downey, who were the top two hitters coming into the match, each contributed five kills.
Hannah Gallegos added 11 assists, while
Kelly Graves and
Taylor Gary posted five apiece. As mentioned above, aces were in the cards, as
Olivia Withers and
Caitlyn Yablon recorded four to lead the way.
Raezellejace Leano added two.
Dallas Christian vs. Manhattan Christian (25-21, 26-28, 26-24, 22-25, 15-17)
A pair of top-10 ranked NCCAA Volleyball Division II squads met on the floor on Saturday afternoon. It was an astounding effort by both sides, as four of the sets were determined by three or fewer points and three sets went beyond the minimal points to claim a victor.
DCC took control early with the first set won. After dropping behind early in the second frame, the Crusaders rallied back but came up short. They would go up 2-1 by edging out a tight third set. With MCC knotting things after four, the Crusaders went up 8-4 in the final set. MCC would get to set-point at 14-13, and the sides traded points to reach 15-all. MCC delivered the final points.
Baker pounded a season-high 21 kills, while Downey garnered 13 and an impressive .458 hitting percentage thanks to just two hitting errors. Del Angel reached double-digits in kills two straight games and rounded out the trio.
Elizabeth Morrow and Gallegos posted season-highs in kills with eight and six, respectively. Gallegos made 30 assists. DCC reached a season-best 100 digs. Yablon paced the group with 30, while Withers had 13 and Graves added 10.
Dallas Christian vs. Ozark Christian (25-13, 25-23, 25-19)
The Crusaders rebounded from a close contest and handled OCC in three sets. The opening frame was by a double-digit margin, while the last two were highly contested, including a two-point finish in the middle set.
Dallas Christian eclipsed double figures in kills during all the sets. The team also outdid Ozark Christian 62-46 in digs. However, the Ambassadors did hold a 13-6 edge on service aces.
Baker posted a team-high in kills for consecutive matches with 10 and has achieved the feat in all-but one match this campaign. Downey chipped in eight kills, while
Maya Harrington added five. Gallegos was the primary setter with 11 assists, while Gary posted seven. Withers posted a personal-best 15 digs to lead DCC.
The next stretch of the Crusaders schedule will be against the South Division of the Region. Two of the three matchups will be at the friendly confines starting this Saturday, September 18, versus Randall University. First serve is at 11 a.m. DCC will then play Arlington Baptist University and Southwestern Adventist University next week.
"Dallas Christian educates and mentors students to be people of influence engaging in their calling to the work of Christ in the church and in the world."
